Athletics Ireland have selected a strong team of five athletes to compete at the World Race Walking Team Championships, which will take place in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday April 21st.
This competition is given added significance in 2024 as it will be the first championships to stage the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay, and will serve as the primary qualification opportunity in that event ahead of this summer's Paris Olympics. The first 22 teams at the World Race Walk Team Championships Antalya 2024 shall automatically qualify for the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Up to five of the first 22 teams can be a second team of the same country.
Finn Valley's Brendan Boyce and West Waterford's Kate Veale will spear-head Ireland's challenge for qualification in this event, having partnered to achieve a 3:11:48 performance in Raheny on December 17th last. Joe Mooney of Adamstown AC is named as a reserve.
Tokyo Olympian David Kenny is selected in the Men's 20km along with the up-and-coming Mullingar Harrier Oisin Lane. Kenny will be looking to get close to or beyond his best of 1:19:44, while Lane will be loooking to further his reputation at senior international level and improve upon his recent 1:24:13 personal best set late last year.
Seamus Clarke competes in the U20 10km having recently set a personal best of 45:03 in Dundince on March 16th, and will have one eye on qualification for this summer's World U20 Championships which take place in Lima, Peru in August.
Athlete | Event | Club | Coach |
David Kenny | Men's Senior 20km | Farranfore Maine Valley AC | Self |
Oisin Lane | Men's Senior 20km | Mullingar Harriers AC | Michael Lane |
Brendan Boyce | Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay | Finn Valley AC | Rob Heffernan |
Kate Veale | Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay | West Waterford AC | Perseus Karlstrom |
Seamus Clarke | Men's U20 10km | Moy Valley AC | Deirdre Clarke |
Joe Mooney | Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay non-travelling reserve | Adamstown AC | Marie Mooney |